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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, April 09, 2002

Israeli Troops Withdraw From Palestinian Towns

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops have begun withdrawal from the West Bank town of Qalqiliya Monday night, Israel Radio reported. The IDF troops are expected to withdraw from another West Bank town of Tulkarm within hours, the radio said.


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The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops have begun withdrawal from the West Bank town of Qalqiliya Monday night, Israel Radio reported.

The IDF troops are expected to withdraw from another West Bank town of Tulkarm within hours, the radio said.

But it is not clear whether the IDF would withdraw from other West Bank towns captured in the current military operations.

The withdrawal decision was made by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon after consultations with cabinet ministers, the radio said. It was obviously under pressure from U.S. President George W. Bush.

U.S. Mideast envoy Anthony Zinni met with Sharon Monday night, delivering a "serious" message by President Bush, in which Bush asked Israel to immediately pull out its troops from the Palestinian towns in the West Bank.

Bush also asked Israel to ease the isolation of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, and allow Arafat to meet with his advisors todiscuss Zinni's cease-fire proposal.

Additionally, the president demanded Israel ensure Arafat's personal security, and make it easier for U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell to meet with Arafat when he arrives in Israel later this week.

Undoubtedly, Bush's message was aimed at Sharon's remarks issuedearlier in the day, in which the prime minister vowed to continue the current military operations until the "Palestinian terrorist infrastructure" is completely destroyed.

Sharon, however, had promised Bush to make "every effort" to endIsrael's military operations as quickly as possible on Saturday, when Bush in a telephone conversation urged Israel to "withdraw without delay" from Palestinian areas.

Under the U.S. pressure, Israel might withdraw the troops from most West Bank towns before the arrival of the U.S. secretary of state, Israeli security sources said.


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